Device and method for actuating valves

Abstract

A device for actuating valves and determines an actuation duration for a valve of a target system from a specified actuation duration for a valve of a reference system with which a required pressure change can be achieved in the reference system in order to achieve the required pressure change in the target system. The device ascertains the effective valve opening time belonging to the specified actuation duration for the valve of the reference system, calculates the effective opening time of the valve of the target system from the effective opening time said opening time of the valve of the target system being used to achieve the same pressure change in the target system as in the reference system, and then determines a valve actuation duration required to achieve the effective opening time of the valve of the target system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for valve actuation comprising:
 a signal input comprising a predetermined actuation duration for a valve of a reference system, with which a required pressure change can be achieved in the reference system, 
 a signal output outputting an actuation duration for a valve of a target system to achieve the required pressure change in the target system, 
 a storage device in which an effective opening time of the valve of the reference system achieved for the predetermined actuation duration and the required actuation duration for an effective opening time to be achieved for the valve of the target system as well as parameters characterizing the pneumatic properties of the reference system and the target system are stored, 
 a device for determining the effective opening time of the valve belonging to the predetermined actuation duration for the valve of the reference system by means of the data stored in the storage device, 
 a device for determining an effective opening time of the valve of the target system corresponding to the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system by which the same pressure change is achieved in the target system as in the reference system, based on the parameters characterizing the pneumatic properties of the reference system and the target system, and 
 a device for determining the actuation duration of the valve required to achieve the effective opening time of the valve of the target system based on the data stored in the storage device, 
 wherein the effective opening time of the valve of the target system corresponding to the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system is determinable by factoring in the differing pneumatic velocities of the reference system and the target system. 
 
     
     
       2. The device for valve actuation of  claim 1 , wherein the effective opening time of the valve of the target system corresponding to the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system is determinable by multiplying with the quotient of the pneumatic velocity of the reference system divided by the pneumatic velocity of the target system. 
     
     
       3. The device for valve actuation of  claim 1 , wherein the effective opening time of the valve of the target system corresponding to the duration of the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system is determinable by multiplying with the quotient of the pneumatic conductance of the reference system divided by the pneumatic conductance of the target system. 
     
     
       4. The device for valve actuation of  claim 1 , wherein furthermore a signal input for the pressure upstream of the valve of the target system and a signal input for the pressure downstream of the valve of the target system are provided,
 wherein the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system achieved for the predetermined actuation duration and the actuation duration required for an effective opening time to be achieved for the valve of the target system are stored in the storage device as functions of the pressures, 
 wherein the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system belonging to the predetermined actuation duration for the valve of the reference system, and 
 wherein the actuation duration of the valve of the target system required to achieve the effective opening time of the valve of the target system are determinable by factoring in the pressures upstream and downstream of the valve of the target system. 
 
     
     
       5. A method for valve actuation comprising:
 determining an effective opening time of the valve of the reference system established for a predetermined actuation duration signal input into a reference system by which a required pressure change in the reference system can be achieved; 
 determining an effective opening time of a valve of a target system corresponding to the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system by which the same pressure change is achieved in the target system as in the reference system; 
 determining the actuation duration of the valve of the target system required to achieve the effective opening time of the valve of the target system and 
 actuating the valve of the target system with the required actuation duration, 
 wherein the effective opening time of the valve of the target system corresponding to the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system is determinable by factoring in the differing pneumatic velocities of the reference system and the target system. 
 
     
     
       6. The method for valve actuation of  claim 5 , wherein the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system is multiplied by the quotient of the pneumatic velocity of the reference system divided by the pneumatic velocity of the target system to determine the effective opening time of the valve of the target system by which the same pressure change is achieved in the target system as in the reference system. 
     
     
       7. The method for valve actuation of  claim 5 , wherein the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system is determined based on the quotient of the pneumatic conductance of the reference system being divided by the pneumatic conductance of the target system to determine the effective opening time of the valve of the target system by which the same pressure change is achieved in the target system as in the reference system. 
     
     
       8. The method for valve actuation of  claim 5 , wherein the determining of the effective opening time of the valve of the reference system established for the predetermined actuation duration of the valve of the reference system, with which the required pressure change can be achieved in the reference system, is done using a characteristic map or a characteristic curve. 
     
     
       9. The method for valve actuation of  claim 5 , wherein the determining of the actuation duration required to achieve the effective opening time of the valve of the target system is done with using a characteristic map or a characteristic curve. 
     
     
       10. The method for valve actuation of  claim 5 , wherein the pressures upstream and downstream of the valve of the target system are factored in when determining the effective opening time established for the valve of the reference system at the predetermined actuation duration and the actuation duration required to achieve the effective opening time of the valve of the target system. 
     
     
       11. The method for valve actuation of  claim 5 , wherein the sampling time of a higher-order control loop or an integer multiple of this sampling time is used as the nominal time for the predetermined actuation duration.